Bag-lock



H. DAR-L IYNG. BAG LOOK (No Model) No. 582,850. Patented May 18, 1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY DARLING, OF.ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

BAG-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,850, dated May 18, 1897.

Application filed July 10, 1896. Serial No. 598,635. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY DARLING, residing at Alexandria, in the county of Alexandria and State of Virginia, have invented a new and Improved Mail-Bag Look, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to mailbag locks, and more particularly to an improved automatic lock.

The main object of my invention is to provide an automatic lock which shall be exceedin gly cheap and simple in construction, strong and durable, and highly efficient in operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide an automatic lock in which it is only necessary to insert the locking-tongue to complete the locking operation; and a still further object is to provide a lock which when released by the use of the proper key will serve to project the tongue from the lock, thereby saving considerable time and labor usually consumed in extracting the tongue from the lock.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mail-bag lock which can be applied and used upon any of the well-known forms of mail-bags.

With these various objects in view my invention consists in a peculiar construction of the various parts and in their novel combination or arrangement, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is aview showing two mailbags equipped with my improved mail-bag lock, the bag to the left showing the rear,

while the bag to the right shows the front, face of the bag. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved lock detached from the bag, but carrying the label which covers the keyhole. Fig. 3 is aview of myimproved lock detached from the bag, the label being removed to expose the keyhole. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view showing the interior mechanism of my improved lock, showing the position of such parts equipped when locked. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the position of the parts equipped when unlocked. Fig. 6 is a detail view of a key, such key being slightly enlarged.

In carrying out my invention I employ a.

case A, which comprises a bottom plate B, a top plate O, and sides and end portions D. The plate B projects slightly beyond the sides and ends and is provided withaseries of perforations B, through which the ends of the staples D are passed and riveted, thereby securing the look upon the outer face of the flap, said staples projecting inwardly, as usual, and are adapted to be passed through slots E, produced in the top portions of the bag.

The case is provided with a supplemental inwardly-extending rim F for the purpose of holding a label or tag upon the top of the case, said supplemental rim having a transverse slit F near the forward end for the purpose of introducing the label or tag beneath said rim, said slit having its side beveled for the purpose of guiding the label or tag into its correct position. One end of the case has an opening D produced therein for the purpose of receiving the locking-tongue H, said tongue being carried upon the strap I, which is adapted to be passed through all of the staples, said strap being swiveled to a plate K, secured upon the opposite end of the flap of the bag.

Pivoted upon the bottom plate within the case is a lever L, having a nose or dog L at the forward end, said nose or dog projecting inwardly, as shown, and adapted to engage the nose or dog H, formed upon the adjacent face of the tongue H, the end of said tongue being pointed, as clearly shown at H Pressing the lever L at the rear end is a spring M, said spring being secured to the side of the keys and tending to normally throw the inner end of said lever outward. This movement of the lever is limited by means of a stop-pin N. A second lever O is pivoted also upon the bottom plate within the case and near the opposite edge, said lever being angular in form, the two rims thereof projecting toward the lever L and adapted to lock the same at a certain time, said lever being normally projected forward or outward by a spring P, secured to the opposite side of the case, and the forward movement of this lever is limited by a stop-pin Q.

A keyhole R is produced in the top plate of the case, and secured to the bottom plate is a post or pintle S, adapted to receive the barrel of the key T, and upon the bottom and top plates of the case are arranged wards V, adapted to engage the wards V of the key, it being of course understood that the wards of the various locks and keys dilfer in some respects, but capable of being operated by a key carried by each postal clerk.

Now in operation the mail-bag is filled, the flap turned over, and the staples project through the slots in the sides, and the strap is then passed through all of such staples, and after being so passed through the side staples the tongue is projected into the end opening G of the case between the guides G, and pushed inward until the point II engages the lever L. This action throws the rear or inner end of the lever rearward or outward and brings the nose or dog L into engagement with the nose or dog 11 of the tongue H, and the very moment that the rear end of the lever L passes beyond the inner member of the lever O the spring P will project said memher in advance of the lever L and lock the same in such position, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4, thereby preventing the tongue from being withdrawn from the lock.

The label or tag can be inserted at any time, either before or after the bag is locked, inasmuch as no keyis necessary to lock the bag. \Vhen, however, it is desired to unlock the bag, the label is first withdrawn and the key inserted through the hole R and given the one-half revolution. This causes the bit of the key to engage the rear end of the lever 0, drawing its inner or forward member away from the rear end of the lever L, and as soon as said member is drawn away from the lever L the spring M acts to project the said lever forward, drawing the nose or dog II and projecting the tongue outward from the case, as most clearly shown in Fig. 5.

It will thus be seen that I provide a cheap form of mail-bag lock, which is simplicity itself, thoroughly reliable, and exceedingly rapid in both the locking and unlocking operations. It will also be noticed that I provide a combination bag-lock and label-holder and also that the label serves to prevent the lock from being troubled or picked, inasmuch as said label covers or conceals the keyhole of the lock.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a mail-bag lock, the combination with the case A, of a locking-tongue II, the lever L, having a nose or dog L, at the forward end and adapted to engage a nose or dog 11, upon the adjacent face of the tongue H, the spring M, bearing upon the lever L, a second lever O, angular in form and adapted to engage the lever L, and lock the same, the spring I, adapted to bear upon the lever 0, said levers L and 0, being angular in form whereby when the key is inserted for the purpose of disengaging the lever O, from the lever L, the spring of said lever L, will throw the same forward whereby the lever L, will serve to eject the tongue H, from the case, substantially as described.

HARRY DARLING.

Witnesses:

THEo. H. FICKS, ROBT. \V. WHALEY. 

